Not Paul Sawyer and his "Alter Ego"

[oletyma]

Good try, but the penny dropped some years back, even in the USA, that he was not the first in a limited boat, but was instead the first in an auto engined limited boat (266 ci hydro). Said this was a little sneaky. It was in the USA and the clue is still "LIMITED" and it was prior to 1950 of course.

[oletyma]

And the answer is:
"Notre Dame" on Oct 9, 1940 on the Detroit River. Driver (and designer) was 23 yr old Gene Arena with Jack Finley as riding mechanic.
Speed was 100.987 mph.
The boat met Gold Cup class (letter"G") specifications.
What???
In the mid 1930's the American P.B.A. reduced engine size in this class to 625 ci maximum (later raised to 12l, 732 ci) with supercharging allowed.
Gold Cup did not revert to unlimited till after WW2 (letter "U"). For several years the G and U boats could be seen racing together.
"Notre Dame" was powered by one of the only two W24 layout, 620 ci supercharged Duesenberg engines ever built. It gave 850 bhp at 5000 rpm. This engine survives but the hull does not.

[reddwarf]

henry's fastest boat was called the boss and did a 178mph two way average

[Admin]

Who's Up?

[reddwarf]

how much did ken warby cut of the rudder of his boat before his record run